Comedy ‘Chuck’ lucks out

“Resident Evil: Extinction” opened at the high end of expectations. The first two films in the series were strong performers but had short legs, so if this one follows the same pattern it could end up with about $60 million domestically.

The moderately budgeted comedy “Good Luck Chuck” looks headed for profitability after its stronger-than-forecast opening.

The western “3:10 to Yuma” and the summer hits “Superbad” and “The Bourne Ultimatum” continue to hold up well.

With total revenue estimated at 4.1% below the same weekend in 2006, this looks like the end of a 10-week streak of “up” weekends.

Preliminary results (in millions) in the U.S. and Canada, based on studio projections:

*--*

Movie

3-day gross

Total

Weeks (studio) (millions) (millions)

1 Resident Evil: Extinction $24.0 $24.0 1 (Sony)

2 Good Luck Chuck (Lions 14.0 14.0 1 Gate)

3 The Brave One (Warner 7.4 25.1 2 Bros.)

4 3:10 to Yuma (Lions Gate) 6.4 37.9 3

5 Eastern Promises 5.7 6.5 2 (Focus/Universal)

6 Sydney White (Universal) 5.3 5.3 1

7 Mr. Woodcock (New Line) 5.0 15.7 2

8 Superbad (Sony) 3.1 116.2 6

9 The Bourne Ultimatum 2.8 220.2 8 (Universal)

10 Dragon Wars (Freestyle 2.5 8.4 2 Releasing) *--*

Industry totals

*--* 3-day gross Change Year-to-date gross Change (in millions) from 2006 (in billions) from 2006 $94.0 -4.1% $7.22 +7.5% *--*

Note: A movie may be shown on more than one screen at each venue.

Source: Media by Numbers

Los Angeles Times